Urgent Help Needed
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A carpenter who can replace a window in the cell block that has rotted and fallen out. Please call 02078208787 or email admin@jamyang.co.uk
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| New Pilgrimage Book |
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John Bonell and Sue Waller are working on a book from the 2006 pilgrimage. The book is a transcription of Geshe-la's wonderful talks, with "tourist information" to set the scene. Each of the talks from all the special places is included and it makes for both a wonderful reminder for those who were there, and a special way of sharing the pilgrimage with those who weren't.
"It is good to start our first session with some meditation to cultivate right motivation, and also to develop good concentration. Although actually I'm not sure how much we can concentrate, but we will try in order to be able to contemplate the teaching better and improve our ability to listen with the right motivation to the talk." So begins Geshe-La with the first talk of the book. Each session is appropriate to the setting, and builds into a most amazing series of teachings. To stand where the Buddha himself stood, recite the Heart of Wisdom Sutra, then have Geshe-la explain, "The Buddha visited this place, Rajgir, many times and also taught many important teachings here including the teachings on emptiness. The Heart of Wisdom Sutra, which we read up there at Vulture's Peak earlier, is the essence; it is the condensed teaching, condensed from the entire prajnaparamita sutras. Sometimes the Heart of Wisdom Sutra is called in Tibetan, 'Gawe yung'. Gawe means Buddha, or the conqueror, yung means Mother - 'Mother of the conqueror'." It doesn't get much better than this.
The book is a 'work-in-progress', which will be available before the 2008 pilgrimage.
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Centre Managers Column
 Work Camp:
Thursday
26- Sunday 29 April 2007
After a very successful work camp last year when we re-decorated the office, we are going to focus our attentions this time on the upstairs flat, cellblock and café area. We'll need help from plumbers, electricians, carpenters, painters, carpet fitters, etc. We definitely need help to plumb in a new water boiler in the café and build some shelves for mugs and tea, etc along the wall where there are currently blackboards. We'll also be re-fitting a new floor, which was damaged when the tea urn handle snapped off a month or two-ago. We'd also like to make it more comfortable with some comfy chairs and sofas so if you have anything decent to donate, or can throw in a few pence to the Facelift Fund, then we'll happily accept it. But more importantly, even if you don't have these skills, but willing to muck in where needed, that is equally as valuable, and you help will be gratefully appreciated. Each day we'll be working from 10.00-5.30 with an hours lunch at 1pm. Please email admin@jamyang.co.uk or call me on 020 7820 8787 to let me know how you can help. Mat.
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 Tibetan Exhibition in Berlin
"Tibet - Monasteries Open Their Treasure Chambers" presents, for the first time in Europe, works of art from the collections of Tibet's most important monasteries. Many of the sculptures, paintings and valuable altar utensils exhibited, all of the highest quality, have never left the country before. Furthermore, treasures from the residencies of the Dalai Lama and from the Tibet Museum in Lhasa can be seen. The masterpieces from the 5th to the early 20th Century reflect the diversity of Tibetan art which has been greatly influenced by Buddhism. Works of art from China, India, Nepal and Kashmir illustrate the close religious and artistic exchange between Tibet and its neighbours.
visit the website |
Meditation Cushions
As you may or may not know I have been reciting Mantra's to raise money for Jamyang to but some new meditations cushions for the Gompa as the ones we have now are outside current fire safety regulations and are pretty dilapidated to say the least, so there is an element of urgency to replace these. This will ensure people can continue to benefit from the wisdom of our precious teacher and from all those who selflessly give their time to teach and benefit us. The cost for a full set of these cushions is quite expensive so every penny counts. If it is at all possible would you please consider supporting my sponsorship task so we can achieve our goal and provide the centre with the much needed new cushions? Every penny donated goes directly to Jamyang and just as every kind action accumulates merit, every penny donated will accumulate towards our total goal so please try and help as you will be ensuring safe comfortable conditions for yourselves and future students. You can help by clicking on the following link www.justgiving.com/sponsor-Tonym and donating securely online or by simply encouraging others to do so by circulating this link to your friends and family etc. Thank you so much for your continued support, Much love. Tony Miller. |
His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Hamburg |
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Welcome to the April edition of GentleVoice. Spring is in the air and we're all preparing here at Jamyang for the new Easter retreat led by Geshe Tashi followed by the Nyung Nay retreats. This edition is our Pilgrimage Special as we launch this the 3rd Jamyang pilgrimage to India. We've compiled some inspiring articles and also teachings from the last pilgrimage to whet your appetite. Also keep an eye on your emails/Jamyang website over the next week as we'll be launching the new Summer Dharma Festival. Kerry Prest. Ed. |
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Bodhicitta by Geshe Tashi Tsering
Over the next 3 issues of GentleVoice we'll be using a teaching that Geshe Tashi gave in Bodhgaya on the Mind of Enlightenment, or Bodhicitta. This is a short extract; the full teaching is available here.
We are going to talk about how to cultivate and develop the mind of enlightenment or Bodhicitta, the altruistic mind that wants to attain enlightenment for the sake of all sentient beings. What we will do whilst we are here, in Bodhgaya, is to cultivate that mind of enlightenment or bodhicitta in all our activities of body, speech and mind...
Now let us consider this mind that the Buddha possessed and through which he became such a great teacher to countless sentient beings over a period of almost 2500 years. The cultivation of that mind of Great Compassion is possible within ourselves, as we possess a certain degree of that mind. Although at present we may not have fully or completely developed Great Compassion within us, we do have that seed or that potential within us. That seed or potential is quite clear. For example when we encounter a stranger or another creature having some difficulties we feel uncomfortable, we want to do something for them if we can. That is the sign that we possess the seed, the potential within us. The potential for that great mind called Great Compassion is within us. That is the mind that the Buddha had and which enabled him to become a fully awakened being. Although at present it is not fully developed, it is very important to acknowledge that right now we have the seed and we need to cultivate it by creating the right causes and conditions. So this is an extremely important first step: to acknowledge that the potential for this great mind is within us, it may not be fully developed but the seed is there. Then we need to remind ourselves every now and then that we do have the seed within us and to contemplate this point. We may have difficulties of many sorts: mental and physical, we may have confusions, attachment, anger, jealousy, aversion and so on and so forth, but deep down we have the seed to grow that great mind and we should remind ourselves every now and then that it is there.
Also we should consider that we have such great outside conditions. We have such great teachers around us such as His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Lama Zopa Rinpoche who are constantly showing us how to cultivate that great seed into further development. So that is another thing we should consider. Not only do I have internally this body and mind not just leave it in the form of a seed. So this is something we should bring again and again into our mind. What an amazing time and what amazing opportunities we have internally and externally and we should acknowledge that and remind ourselves that we should not miss this opportunity but take advantage of it as much as we can.
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Pilgrimage 2008
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Our 2008 Pilgrimage to the Buddhist sites of India is finally prepared and ready for you to book. We have extended the Pilgrimage to add some adventure and it is really exciting. Geshe-la will give teachings at all the Buddhist sites. As a spiritual journey, Pilgrimage has nothing to compare.
Instead of flying to Delhi we will be beginning in Chennai (Madras, Tamil Nadu State). We will then travel to Amaravati in Andhra Pradesh state. Amaravati was known in ancient times as Dhanyakataka and was a thriving Buddhist society. Its history began in the third century BCE. It was the place where Emperor Ashoka initiated the largest Buddhist Stupa in India. It is said that Buddha first revealed Kalachakra here. We then move on to Nagarjunakonda. It is here that Nagarjuna's monastery existed. His great text 'Precious Garland of Advice for the King' (the Ratnavali), which even to this day gives the best advice to society's leaders, was probably composed here.
During the Pilgrimage we have three overnight train journeys, which, as all seasoned Indiaphiles know, are an adventure in themselves. Of course we have the luxury of AC sleeping berths so they will be comfortable journeys. But we will be depending on Indian Railways cooking at this time and the sound chai, chai, chai!!! Our next destination is Aurangabad, named after the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. This was his capital and is the gateway to the world heritage sites of Ajanta and Ellora. Ajanta houses some of the finest examples early Buddhist architecture, caves-paintings and sculptures. These caves comprise Chaitya Halls, or shrines, dedicated to Lord Buddha and Viharas, or monasteries, used by Buddhist monks for meditation and the study of Buddhist teachings. The paintings that adorn the walls and ceilings of the caves depict incidents from the life of the Buddha and various Buddhist divinities. Among the more interesting paintings are the Jataka tales. In Ellora there are twelve Buddhist caves (others are Hindu and Jain, showing the openness of Indian culture). Here there are elements from the Vajrayana school of Buddhism.
From Ajanta we travel again on Indian Railways to begin the Pilgrimage proper to follow the footsteps of the Buddha to Sarnath, Bodhgaya (five nights), Rajgir (Vultures Peak and the Bamboo Grove), Nalanda Monastery, Vaishali, Kushinagar (Lord Buddha's Parinirvana), Lumbini (Nepal, Buddha's birth place), Kapilavasti (As Siddhartha the Buddha grew up here), Shravasti (Jeta's Grove where most of the rainy season retreats took place and numerous sermons and over 800 sutras.)
Finally we all go together to Delhi where we have a farewell meal together, do some shopping and prepare for 'civvy street' again. Who said there are no adventures left in the world?
For those who would like to extend your pilgrimage, HH the Dalai Lamas Losar teachings are between 21 February -2 March, after which you'll still have time to join us for the start at Chennai. Steve Sinclair.
COSTS: £1800 (including return flights to India) or £1350 (minus flights). The pilgrimage will help to raise funds to completely overhaul Jamyang's heating system and replacing the boilers. The tour is strictly limited to 32 people, first-come-first-serve. No reductions can be considered. These costings are rough estimates based on preliminary information our Indian travel agent has given us. Upon booking, a deposit of £250 (non-refundable) will be required by May 2007 and the remainder by October 2007. Please contact Esther (esther@jamyang.co.uk) or Kerry (kerry@jamyang.co.uk) for more information or to book. |
The Sacred Sites of the Dalai Lamas
This is to invite you to the first UK screening of Michael Wiese's film titled, "The Sacred Sites of the Dalai Lamas: A Pilgrimage to The Oracle Lake", followed by a Q & A with the film-maker on 21 April (Saturday) at 6.30 pm at the Kailash Centre, 7 Newcourt Street, London NW8 7AA (below the Office of Tibet; nearest tube station is St. Johns Wood).
ENTRANCE FREE: However, donations in lieu of the free screening are welcome and will go to the Tibet House Trust's Emergency Relief Fund. The Tibet House Trust is the official Tibetan charity linked to the Office of Tibet, the official agency of His Holiness the Dalai Lama for Northern Europe, the Baltic Countries and Poland.
 A remarkable film visiting the sacred sites of the Dalai Lamas in Tibet, a pilgrimage with translator and author Glenn Mullin. This fascinating journey explores the caves where the early Buddhist masters meditated, enters the monasteries where the Dalai Lamas and others taught, and - at an altitude of over 16,000 feet - looks down into the famous oracle lake of Lhamo Lhatso where every Dalai Lama has had prophetic visions.
"The film has a lot of charm, is sincere and winning. It is an easy way to visit Tibet. Glenn is as engaging as ever. The photography is good and the story well told."
- Prof. Robert Thurman, Indo-Tibetan Buddhist Studies, Columbia University, New York
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| THIS MONTH AT JAMYANG |
RETREATS (there are no regular classes this month)
Friday 6 - Monday 9 APRIL
There are a few places still available for people living out. Please contact the office.
NN1: 10-12 APRIL
NN2: 13-14 APRIL
NN3: 15-16 APRIL
OTHER EVENTS:
Saturday 21 April:
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Repaying the Kindness
Our spring programme has been well attended by carers from the London boroughs of Lambeth and Southwark. We have offered 3 Retreat Days through February and March. Also in March, David Ford skillfully helped 39 of us to create a herb garden in a basket in a short space of time! Heidi and her helpers provided a picnic lunch, with delicious sandwiches, much appreciated by all: nothing was too much trouble - thank you, Heidi! David rounded off the day with a lively gardeners question time, to match any such show on the radio! Gardening events are always popular -getting your hands in the earth and creating something natural and beautiful seems to water the soul with ease! Thanks David for enabling this day to happen.
We are completing our current programme with a day of "Relaxation for Health", hosted locally by the Southwark Carers organisation. During these events, we have had the regular and invaluable support of a band of helpers who are now well known & loved by the carers. Big thanks to you all.
With some sadness, we are informing our carer friends that our funding from Lambeth will not continue after the end of this financial year. It is clear we offer a vital service to carers who will continue to care, with or without respite. So we will do our best to continue to provide, in one form or another, respite in a day for carers in Lambeth. Carers in Lambeth & Southwark together with REPAYING THE KINDNESS have become like family, just as we and "the Jamyang" (as it was affectionately referred to in the early days in Lambeth) are family. So please hold this project and all who have benefited from it in your hearts during this time of transition. And may we continue to manifest the good heart in accordance with the wishes of our teachers.
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| Kalachakra Retreat |
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The Kalachakra Practice Group is organising a four day retreat at the beginning of June, starting at 8.00 am on Friday 1st June and finishing after lunch on Monday 4th June. The first day will be taken up with recitation of the full sadhana for which texts are available. In the evening of 1st, the recitation retreat will begin, and this will follow through until mid-morning on Monday. The retreat will finish with the Kalachakra Tsog Puja. Anyone who has taken the Kalachakra Initiation may attend. The retreat will be led jointly by Andy Wistreich and Sofia Stril Rever from the Paris Kalachakra Practice Group. Sofia has been instructed by Jhado Rinpoche and Kirti Tsenshap Rinpoche in the mantra recitation retreat that we shall be undertaking. Participants are expected from Paris and from the US. There are likely to be simultaneous retreats by groups and individuals in other parts of the world.
The retreat will be dedicated to the quick return of Kirti Tsenshap Rinpoche who passed away recently. Rinpoche gave the Kalachakra Initiation at Jamyang in 1996. In honour of Rinpoche's commitment to world peace and the environment, we will also dedicate the retreat to peace in the Middle East and to purify the natural environment. Moreover, the mantra count will contribute to a world-wide effort to support the requests to His Holiness the Dalai Lama to teach Kalachakra generation and completion stage yogas, made by Jhado Rinpoche and the International Kalachakra Network. Click here for more details.
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GENERAL FPMT NEWS
March 2007
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